Black Cat Liam Lawrence says the competition for places at the Stadium of Light is bringing the best out of him.

The right winger returned to the Sunderland side against Cardiff City in February after Achilles and ankle injuries. Although he was left out of the starting XI against Crewe Alexandra, Plymouth Argyle and Queen's Park Rangers, Lawrence has since established himself as a regular, Dean Whitehead moving into a more central position to accommodate him.

"Every time when you're not in the side or you're sub you're thinking, `I've got to get back in the side and do well,' because it's not very nice not being involved," Lawrence admitted. "I was in the side before Christmas and we had some great wins at Cardiff, Stoke and (Nottingham) Forest and then I got injured and I was out of the team again. Things weren't looking good but I've managed to get back in the team."

Lawrence conceded the stop-start nature of his return was frustrating but backed manager Mick McCarthy's judgement.

"He put me in against Burnley and then left me out for a couple of games because he thought I needed more football and more training," he said. "I wasn't happy about it but I'm never happy when I'm not playing.

"But if the manager sees fit, then that's the way it is. He sometimes picks certain players for certain games or battles and you have to accept it and get on with it. Every decision he makes seems to be going right for him.

"It is devastating at times, especially when I wasn't even sub at QPR, but you have to pick yourself up. I was back in the side against Wigan and you have to take your chance when it comes."

The 23-year-old realises if Sunderland can secure promotion to the Premiership - which could happen as soon as Saturday if the Black Cats beat Leicester and Ipswich Town fail to beat Leeds United - the competition will only intensify.

"There'll probably be some very good players coming in if we go up because he'll have a lot of money to spend," he said. "But with the likes of me, Dean Whitehead and Chris Brown we have to show we're as good as anyone they try and bring in and can do a job for him."

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Thomas Myhre is ahead of schedule in his fitness race and hopeful of returning for Saturday's home game with Leicester after straining his side against Reading. Sunderland have conceded four goals in the game and a half the Norwegian has missed.

"Touch wood I'll be OK for Saturday," he said, "but a decision won't be made until right before the game."

The injury generally takes three weeks to heal and although Sunderland's faint hopes of having Myhre fit for Sunday's game with Ipswich proved unfounded, he is optimistic of facing Leicester, a fortnight after picking up the injury.

"I had a slight hope for the Ipswich game but really it was impossible," he admitted. "I tried to do a bit in training on Saturday, but it didn't take long to realise that it wasn't right."

Myhre had words of consolation for young deputy Michael Ingham, who was at fault for Ipswich's opening goal at the weekend.

"Michael's hardly played this season so it wasn't easy for him," Myhre said. "I think he did well. It was such a massive game for him and I was kicking and catching every ball with him."

The Black Cats' reserve team game against Bolton Wanderers has been rescheduled tonight for 7pm. The match was postponed on Monday after a waterlogged pitch at the Archibald Stadium and replaces the reserve derby against Newcastle, which was called off due to the Magpies' first-team commitments.